More Cultra News

Further to our preview a couple of weeks ago, our Ulster Correspondent Tony Gregory brings us yet more news of some great attractions appearing at Cultra Hillclimb.

‘Mother’ C-Type set to appear at Cultra Hillclimb

The Cultra Hillclimb, close to Belfast, always puts together a stunning entry of cars for this once a year extravaganza and 2014 will be no exception.

Tony has kindly sent us the latest press releases from the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club ahead of this weekends event.

‘Mother’ C-Type for Cultra Hillclimb

“Jaguar XKC-030 will make its European competition debut in the North Down Tourism supported TSCC Speed Hillclimb Competition at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum’s Cultra 2014 Event on Saturday 14th June, driven by experienced historic racer and preparation expert, David Brazell from Towcester.

The car was supplied to a Mr. David Hirsch in the USA in time for the 1953 Sebring 12-Hour Race where it finished fourth, driven by Bob Gegen and Harry Gray. Changing hands on a regular basis it would go on to establish one of the longest known continuous competition histories of any car and remain unrestored whilst being lovingly maintained and repaired. Because of this long history and lack of major restoration, it became recognised in America as the definitive example of a racing C-Type and earned the nickname ‘Mother’.

Over sixty years in the USA it competed in a race or speed event every year, often 10 to 20 times a year, up in to the ‘Teenies’. Two years ago it was purchased by a European classic/historic/vintage car collector and has been sympathetically re-furbished by Brazell Engineering Ltd. Its new owner has determined that the car will remain in its “well patinated”, to quote Brazell, original condition and be used as often as necessary to maintain that incredible continuous competition record. To that end the owner has charged David Brazell with giving the car a competitive ‘shake-down’ at Cultra, ahead of embarking on the next chapter of its Historic Sports Car Racing career.

TSCC President and Cultra Event Co-ordinator William Heaney commented :- “When WRC driver Kris Meeke attended Cultra Revival 2010 we envisaged the Event growing around star celebrities and guests, as last year with Louise Aitken-Walker and Rosemary Smith. Instead, really significant cars have become the stars, often late in the planning process. Following the Crossle Mk3/No.1, the Ferguson P99 & Jensen FF’s in our first two themed event years, we had the ‘Festival of Britain’ Allard and McCandless sports car last year. Now we are to be honoured by the presence of a sports car icon, we’re absolutely thrilled to have XKC 030 at our Event”.

Mark Kennedy, Curator of Road and Rail Transport at the Museum added, “The Museum is honoured to welcome such a famous and original C type Jaguar to Cultra. Seeing this car in action will bring back memories for anyone who recalls Stirling Moss winning in a C type at the Dundrod circuit in 1951.”

Johnson Set to FLY at Cultra Hillclimb

“Fermanagh’s Mervyn Johnson and his famous Mini Cooper ’S’ will making their competition debut at the renowned Cultra Hillclimb event, next Saturday 14th June. “Ulster’s Motoring Garden Party” is centred around the twisty 640m long Cultra Hillclimb course and sits in the spectator friendly parkland grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum North Down. First run on the 6th May 1905, it has now become the World’s Oldest Active Speed Hillclimb.

Mervyn Johnson will debut the Mini at Cultra this weekend.

Dubbed the ”Tullyhommon Flyer” Johnson has always been synonymous with minis, right from his first rally in 1961, with 50 plus years of competition behind him Johnson has won the Irish Historic Tarmac Rally Championship a record four times.

His first major success came with victory in the 1964 Circuit of Ireland Touring Category and six years later he added the Ulster Rally Championship, not with standing a break of 14yrs Johnson came back to rallying and won his historic championship titles in 91,92,02 and 2004.

In 2012 Johnson’s career was celebrated by his priers and he received an outstanding contribution award for rallying from the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association at their annual end of season prize giving.

Organised by The Thoroughbred Sports Car Club NI, this years annual event will celebrate the theme of “Mini, Mods and Monsters”, evoking memories of the swinging sixties. The Edwardian Cultra Manor which sits in the middle of the course, again plays host to a vintage fair and prominent car displays, which this year celebrate the career of one of Johnson contemporaries Paddy Hopkirk and his 1964 Monte Carlo win. An Autotest demonstration will showcase Hopkirk’s first motorsport activity.

This is the second year that the event has been over-subscribed for this non-championship competition with Johnson going head to head with 100 other like minded competitors and with over half the field in Modified Saloons, Sports Cars and half a dozen single-seaters, the Mods and Monsters are well represented.

Other activities will see local Crossle Racing Car Company host a preview event for a new book about its history, “Hidden Glory” written by Plum Tyndall and due for publication in the Autumn. In addition a group of Crossle sporting trials cars will give a demonstration of their highly specialised skills, in the Glen behind the Manor.

For younger visitors to the Event and their parents, their will be an Exhibition by the STEM Programme and Displays by ‘Formula Student’ UUJ Racing and ‘F1 in Schools’ Team Nero. Further event information can be found at www.tsccni.info and http://www.nmni.com/uftm“
Thanks so much for the news and gossip Tony, we look forward to hearing what happens this weekend.